001Heat. Hey, Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. [Applause] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey, [Music] hey, hey. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Hey, Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. Hey, Heat. [Music] Born. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. N. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Hey, Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] Good evening. Welcome to uh Scooed Hammond's
002regular schoolboard meeting Tuesday. Special special. Special. Oh, special. Oh, I I was getting to it. I said Tuesday, July 1st. That was the second line. Regular. Oh, I did say regular. Oh, y'all help me. I just got off of a plane from Philadelphia coming almost straight to this meeting. Okay, let's start all over. Can we do that? Erase that. It's summer. It's hot. It's July 1st. Okay, here we go again. Good evening. Welcome to our school board meeting, Tuesday, July 1st, 2025. It's a special board meeting. We will stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Roll call. Trusty Guer present. Trusty Spencer present.
003Trusty Stanford here. Trusty Candela present. Trusty Blake King. Uh, all five uh trustees are present. We have a quorum. We can move forward. Uh, Mr. Selenas. Good evening everyone. Welcome to our special board meeting. Um, our first item is public expression. Oh, just a moment. All right. Trusty Stanford. We got a lot of names today. All right. Let's get started. First speaker, Jamie Leon. Did I say that correctly? Good evening everyone. Good evening. I'm Jamie Leiddon. I'm also here with my colleague Erica Favlla. Tonight we are representing international student exchange. Um we have several families in the community who are interested in hosting a foreign exchange student. Um this evening I am representing um Gina Pazypanka who was unable to be here this evening because she recently had surgery but she did share with me
004a letter that she asked me to read on her behalf. Um and let me back up. So I am the regional manager for international student exchange and Erica Favlla is a regional adviser with our organization. So last year, Gina and I had met and we tried to go through the process of having her family host a foreign exchange student. Um we did run into a few snags and she is interested in hosting again this year. So her letter says um my name is Gina Pap Pazypanka and I'm reaching out today on both a proud alum and active member of our community. I'm a Gavit graduate, class of 2020 2002, a former substitute teacher of the Hammond schools from 2015 to 22, and a parent of a former student at Morton Elementary. I'm writing to kindly
005seek the approval and support to host a foreign exchange student for the upcoming school year through International Student Exchange. Last year, um, I was approved to host for a student from Mexico. Due to school circumstances beyond our control, we were unable to move forward. While it was disappointing, we were encouraged to try again this year and are hopeful that the time is right. Um, now today, I'm coming to you again in hopes of hosting a student at either Morton High School or Hammond Central. While I live in the Morton boundaries, I work at the city of Hammond Parks and Department at the Civic Center, which is just around the corner from Hammond Central. Because of this, I'm able and able and willing to provide transportation to Hammond Central if um if they are open to
006accepting our student. The student we are hoping to host is named Andrea. She's an outstanding 10th grade student with excellent English skills, strong academic performance. She's a straight A student. Her interests are athletics, music, and art. I believe she would be a wonderful addition to our school community, not only excelling academically, but also bringing cultural enrichment um perspectives to her peers. Hosting an exchange student isn't just about providing them an opportunity. It's also about offering our local students a meaningful chance to guide global understanding and lifelong connections. I know firsthand impact how impactful this can be as Gavit High School previously participated in a very in the very program around 2013 to 2014. We are ready to move forward with the enrollment process and are excited about the potential to welcome Andrea to Hammond's um
007to Hammond High School. If there are any next steps or requirements, I would be more grateful for your guidance. Should any questions um arise or need additional information about um the ISS program, Jamie Leiddon, regional manager, is available to assist. I can be reached directly and she left her email address. And thank you so much for your time and consideration. I hope we can work together to bring the opportunity back to our schools and showcase to Andrea the diverse and welcoming spirit of Hammond. Um just a few comments on there. two we we are limited to three minutes. Okay. And I highly recommend that you uh get with our acting superintendent. Okay. And you all exchange numbers and I and I'm sure something sounds good. Thank you. Thank you very much for this exciting opportunity
008for our for our school district. All right. Next, Erica Favlla. Good evening. Yes, just uh as Jamie had said, my name is Erica. Um thank you for allowing me to speak today. I am a regional adviser of international student exchange. International Student Exchange is a proud to be designed designated sponsor of the J1 secondary school exchange program authorized by the US Department of State for the purpose of cultural enrichment and public diplomacy. Since our founding in 1982, our certified 501c3 nonprofit organization has placed over 30,000 international students in the US schools and communities. We are fully listed with the CSET and are committed to high school or high standards of safety, student support, and academic alignment. In addition to supporting international students, ISC also provides study abroad opportunities for American teens. At its core, this
009is not just about giving students from other countries a chance to study here. It's about what our students, our teachers, and our community um stand to gain. When a young person comes from across the globe to America, they don't just bring a suitcase. They bring their story, their culture, their perspective. And when they share those things in the classrooms, something powerful happens. These students begin to see the world not as a distant concept, but as something real, human, and connected to them. They learned that while we speak different languages or eat different foods, we laugh at the same jokes. We worry about the same things, and we care about the same hopes for our future. Welcoming exchange students teaches our young young people that no textbook can. How to listen, how to become curious without
010judgment, and how to grow into citizens of global society. In a world that is increasingly divided, these lessons are more important than ever. As it goes both ways, our students become ambassadors for Hammond, showing our values, our kindness, and the richness of the north of the life of Northwest Indiana. It's something they remember for the rest of their lives. These programs come with little to no financial burden on the school. Exchange organizations provide support, insurance, and vetting. Wellscreened host families open their homes willingly. What Hammond Central is asked to offer is a desk in a classroom and a place in the community and open minds. Even if one student walks away from this experience with a broader world view, a deeper empathy or a lifelong friendship, then we've done something profoundly good. As a an
011alumni of Hammond High School, I would love to see Hammond bring cultural exchange and that the school would not only um teach history that helps shape it through connection, culture, and courage to welcome the world through classrooms and hallways of the high school. Thank you. Thank you very much. We look forward to the opportunity to the collaboration. Next is Glattus Diaz. So, I'm Glattus and I'm just having you put a face to um kind of the host families that uh Erica and Jamie were speaking about. Um so, my husband and I are here in hopes just to get the opportunity to bring an exchange student to show them the wonderful community. Um I was raised in Hammond, attended Hammond schools. Um, I'm now a proud home owner in Hammond. Um, so Hammond is home. Hammond
012are my roots. Sorry, I'm a little nervous. Um, I did travel a lot recently. Um, so it is a wonderful opportunity just to see a whole different culture. Um, so just being able to bring a host student over and show them our community, my home would be a wonderful opportunity to be honest. Um, I know this comes with a lot of challenges, but my community is here, my family's here. Erica also is very very welcoming. So I'm just excited to be able to have this opportunity with my husband to be able to show them you know what I grew up with. Um so it would be a wonderful opportunity um not only to the community but to the Hammond students. I remember when I was young we had a host student and that was always
013interesting to be able to just talk to them and see their their culture just as a student while I was in high school. So um just thank you for hearing me out. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next is Adam. Not sure what the last name is. Had it. Madame President, board members, I stand before you tonight not as a critic but as a certified superintendent who sees preventable strategy unfolding. But when my dollar solution can change that about me live in the community both my family and I live here my children were born Hammond then St. at Margaret Hospital at that time. I'm a Purdue engineer, Indiana MBA, masters from Chicago in leadership, Cornell University law certificate, and another PhD from Serbia. The crisis before COVID only 28% of our third grade could read.
014Now much less. I'll say about 19% based on my research. Why? Because schools closed. Students with tutors kept learning while 3,000 plus of Hammond children had no laptops. But here's the truth. Gary has the same challenges. Yet they invested in Esser funds in touring while we spend just 7%. But get this. Now their graduation rate is six point higher. This isn't about poverty. This is about choices. The $1 solution is this is why I renew my long-standing offer to this board. I'll lead the district for $1, not as a stunt, but as a strategy. My salary saving could fund 50 tutors. Also, four new teachers deployed to our lowest performing elementary schools to cut class size for struggling readers. Two, teacher stipens about 5,000 bonus dollars for STEM and literacy mentors who commit to three
015years in Helman schools. Three, lease buses to end the chronic absenteeism crippling our kids. For example, in Detroit, bus leases cut absenteeism by 18% in one year alone. We can do it. Security upgrades. Trauma train staff secured interest at every school. Stand labs. You know the research says robotics and coding programs at middle schools proven to boost graduation rate by 12%. Just focusing on STEM. You choose how to allocate the savings, but you must act. Every month of delay, please remember, every month of delay cost us four more dropouts according to Indiana Department of Education. Less 20 more kids fall permanently behind in reading according to an EC Foundation. I am not asking for a blank check. I'm handing you a two-year salary, $400,000 signed with $1 salary. To break the Matthew effect, we'll talk
016about Matthew effect in a minute. The only question will you cash it for less than the cost of one administrator's coffee budget will break the magic effect. I will mandate phonics like Mississippi did and gain 50% increase in reading audit every esser dollar left publish monthly scorecard to you and every parent will see the progress. The challenge this superintendent vacancy is not for the faint of heart. It's going to take strong f focus leader. Thank you very much. Working with everyone. Thank you very much sir. Your time is up. Yeah. Just uh one last thing. Thank you very much sir. Yeah the the matthew effect I have to say this to those who have more will be given and those who have nothing will be taken away from it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
017Next speaker Cindy Murphy. Cindy Murphy. Um, one of the things I'd like to remind the person who calls for the pledge of allegiance is to be inclusive. And to be inclusive means everyone should face not stand up because we have many people that are unable to raise from their seats. So, I hope in the future you will be conclusive and ask everyone to face the flag instead of asking them to stand up. I'm glad that you got the personnel rep report back on here. One of the things that would have been made it much easier last time and you've got someone on this board who's been here for six and a half years, all you had to do was amend it. Instead, all the hard work that your acting superintendent did, you just pulled it
018and just say, "No, we're going to go deal with it another time." And all you had to do when you came in here is like we have a revised or amended personnel report and all that could have been done and you don't need to have something for the state board of accounts to go say in the future please don't do that again. So we talk about all the resignations. I know it's repeat of last month. I recently talked to a teacher who was looking for a job somewhere else but all her offers were lower than what Hammond was paying. So she wasn't going to jump ship. Her biggest issue was code of conduct, which I'm glad you're finally getting to the board policy that is from over a year ago, some of it, and hopefully
019getting it approved tonight. Then you can update the code of conduct before school starts. And this teacher's biggest complaint was, "It's not being followed." And she says, "It really makes a lot of teachers angry when you've got some that are following it, others are not. Why am I disciplining a child, sending them to the office just to have them sent back? We need to be really asking our teachers, why are they leaving? Yes, it's over money. Sometimes it's over benefits, but sometimes it's happening. What is inside the classrooms? Also, now the last thing I want to go over, you're now into the month of informal bargaining. I bring to your attention again your extracurricular coaches, your chess coaches. There's no reason to be having secondary paid so much higher than elementary when elementary in some
020cases have two to three times the amount of players as the other ones. Insurance, you guys are running out of time for next year. I know you're not going to get the amount of increases, but 9 to 11% on top of what it is. That's what it's been for over a decade. But as insurance prices rise, that 9 to 11% gets much higher for your employees. And one of the things you could be looking at is either state insurance or you could be looking at the trust because it's simple math. As your pool shrinks, your premiums go up. Really simple math. And so the reason to get your pool bigger, you could go into a trust and help out your employees. Thank you. Thank you. Next, Mary Ellen Slazak, Mary Ellen Sys. H I got
021some questions about the personnel report. The biggest one is why are we losing so many qualified people? there is something seriously wrong when I think it was a couple meetings ago which I didn't go to the last one because I couldn't but the one before that um we had 80 or 85 that had resigned at that point and now I'm looking at the report tonight there's 67 that have resigned and then we got four retirees we're bleeding out personnel teachers aids special ed people we're just bleeding them out why are they leaving it's Not all because of the money. It's because of the hostile work environment. It seems if they're not in a club, they're not in a click, then they just don't have an easy time and they're leaving. And I don't blame them
022either. I used to have two brothers that work for the school system years ago and they both quit, too. And that was a long time ago. So, it's like a same old same old just just a different day, different year. We need to appreciate the educators of our children and the people that back them up, but it's not happening. And it's not all about the money. You got people working in some religious schools and private schools aren't getting paid anywhere near what public schools are paying them, but yet they're staying because they know they're appreciated and their efforts are appreciated. And that's not happening here. And it's got to change because we could have nobody left. We even lost another administrator. How many more are we going to bleed? Who's going to teach the kids?
023I see there's some new hires on the list now. Enough to cover what we've lost. And what are we replacing the ones are that are leaving with? Inexperienced teachers. We can't afford to lose these experienced teachers. Our children need these experienced educators if they're going to get anywhere in life. If they're going to have a good life when they grow up, they got to have the education. And they're not going to get it from somebody who just graduated college, maybe has a year or two experience. We're losing teachers that have been a decade or two, that are nowhere near retirement, but they're leaving, and that's got to stop for the sake of our kids and to be more responsible as a school city. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Ella Anderson and
024Melanie Richardson. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Stella Anderson. I've been a school city of Hammond employee for 34 years. Uh in October I'm a school bus driver, also a union store for the drivers. My name is um Melanie Rson. I have 39 years of transportation department. Um, we're here because we didn't receive our longevity check. Um, this is like the second year we haven't received it. And I feel that as employees, we should be appreciated. We should have never let them take it out of our contract. Um, and if it wasn't for the bus drivers and monitors, the kids would get to school. And I just feel like it's a slap in our face for them to just take out everything out of our contract. Um it's like we just working for nothing
025and I don't feel it's right for um them to let let them do that. It's a lot of stuff took out contract we want it back in there because um in order to keep drivers you have to show show them that you need them and monitors too. I'm I'm using for the monitors. So that's why I just asking for our longevity check. We we short two years this year and last year also. Yes. And I agree with that. We were short two years last year and this year. Uh custodians and parap paraprofessionals got their longevities last year and this year we haven't gotten a thing. So I really feel like we're old from last year and this year. I've been with this um school city of Hammond these many years. I' I've been dedicated and
026I feel like we're owed that longevity. We need to be shown that we are appreciated as well. And it's like our department is has just been overlooked. You know, everyone else got their longevity that normally gets it except transportation department. And this is the second year we haven't gotten their ours and everyone else has gotten theirs like they're supposed to. They had to fight for it, but they got it. And we haven't gotten anything. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Next, Tom H. What's his name? How? Huska. Hala. Hala. Okay. This is first time for me doing this. Okay. So, um, introduce yourself. Hello, my name's uh Tom Holla. I'm a the digital design teacher at the area Career Center. Um I I first want to thank uh Roxanna from the Hammond Education
027Foundation. Um she made a generous donation or the the foundation made a generous donation to the ACC um for the students participating at the national conference for Skills USA. So, um I work at the career center and I'm trying to think like the people behind me because you guys know a little bit, but uh at the ACC we have like our CTO which is our uh career and technical organization and uh number of the programs we compete in a regional competition. So, if you look at some of the handouts, um, excuse me, you got to take, but I just want to just like you start out where you could see at Elcart, it's the regional competition and then going to state. So, Aaron Anderson from Morton High School. Um, he's he's earned a scholarship, I
028think, to Western Michigan this year. And, uh, but he's, uh, he placed third at nationals with, uh, Skills USA in screen printing. Um, this is the first time our program, uh, had somebody place in uh, like actually place like in the top three. Last year was one of my I I say one of my best years. I had three students participate at nationals and and uh one placed sixth in uh in uh screen printing. That was uh Lyanna. And then uh another student placed uh um 14th. That was a girl from Morton uh Gabby in ad design. And then another student placed uh 16th in uh graphic communications. But every year we go through this skills competition. like construction trades. You could see uh some of the pictures with Scott Cupc. Um he has teams
029going there almost every year. It's either going to be teamworks, carpentry, cabinet making. Matter of fact, last year he had the number one the national champion in uh carpentry and and that student was also from from Morton High School. Um I guess what I want to say this is a big thing. If you look at the picture in the back, I mean, we're filling the uh State Farm Arena and that's a national competition. So, and uh it it's amazing. I can't imagine how Aaron felt stepping up on the stage and being out there and uh and receiving his medal. And uh I'll tell you, I'll finish with this. He was so confident before like 30 minutes before they made announcement of any of the finalists, they would, you know, not to come out with their
030hats on, their badges or like their medals like what I have here. And uh so he took all his off set it on the side and about 30 minutes before they even announced the finalist. So wow. But uh so I was like ready to nudge him if he was if it was bad luck or not. I didn't say anything but but anyway I wanted to say like at the career center we are accomplishing a lot of things. Yes you are. Awesome. And I have to say I was there that competition is huge and I did take a picture of the t-shirt that he did. It was the Indiana one, right? This was our Indiana one. But then we also had one for re at the state. That was I think one of the And that
031was in Atlanta, Georgia. Is that correct? Yep. It was phenomenal. It's amazing. Well, that's part of our restoration and elevation. Thank you so much. And there's more to come. Okay, Tom, you're on here twice, so I'm g have to skip you the second go round. Okay, Jeremy. So thank you for that. As you can see, Mr. Lusa is very passionate. The teacher comes out in all of us and I I think he was uh teaching a lesson right now. Uh so thank you for that, Mr. Looa. Uh so the Haminary Career Center uh participated in the Skills USA national conference of 2025 and CTE District 2 proudly participated uh in the national uh Skills USA leadership and skills conference that was held in Atlanta, Georgia from June 23rd to 27th. So yes, it is a
032week-long uh full of events and and breakout sessions and competitions. Uh the event brought together over 18,000 students, 850 plus industry representatives and 6,800 over 6,800 competitors in 114 skill and leadership events uh that were held at the Georgia World Congress Center. Uh so students from the Haminary Career Center showcased their skills in various hands-on competitions in including screen printing technology, video news production, and construction trades. As Mr. Loosa uh mentioned our bronze medal winner. We don't we can't we we can say it but being there I I I was not there but I was there in spirit and just seeing the pictures and the updates uh a bronze medal meaning third place of all the students participating across the US. And if you notice Mr. Luca had the lanyard with with pins. Those are
033just some of the states that was just from this year. I thought he's been collecting them over time but just this year he connected with those states. So each uh pin that he has on his lanyard is a different state and that's part of a competition as well. Uh so Aaron Anderson of Morton High School as was mentioned earned a bronze medal in screen printing technology after demonstrating exceptional skill, creativity and precision. Radio and TV news uh the radio and TV news program placed 20th in the nation with students excelling in the video news production contest and also construction trades showcase incredible teamwork and roofing precision and completing their structures with excellence. So we wanted to come here to say a special thank you to the board of trustees. Thank you for having faith in
034us. Thank you for supporting our students first and foremost. It was nervousness when we travel and you know believe us that that we really appreciate the confidence and the opportunity to expose our students to something uh far beyond words can explain. So, thank you for the continued and I would say again continued support in addition to uh trustee secretary Stanford um that supported our students in Atlanta, Georgia. So, we had uh trustees that a trustee that made it there in person. Uh and a huge congratulations to all our competitors for representing the Hammond the Hammond Area Career Center with dedication, passion, and skill. And it definitely was an unforgettable experience that we're excited that bright futures hopefully it will continue to be an annual thing where we represent and bring back some uh accolades and
035hardware. So thank you. Thank you. Excellent. Excellent. Thank you. Now there's no reason why CNN MSNBC 257 and9 don't have this story. Another big round of applause. Thank you. G Dr. Michaela Spangber. Good evening everyone. Um, first I'd like to express my solidarity with the teamsters and their concerns and the paras and their concerns. And it seems like we have a lot of lingering problems that started from boards ago, administrations ago, whatever, and that have still kind of drifted into the current day. It's important not only to correct those, but find out why, you know, because I know nobody on this board would ever advocate something like short changing or our or teachers or parents or drivers, whoever. Um, sometimes it's hard, you know, when you first come into a situation to get a full
036handle on everything, but over time it does happen and the sooner the better. Um, on another note, it's wild to go to schoolboard meetings in other cities and hear of all things public comments made on this podium referenced and referenced as intimidation toward current employees, past employees, incoming employees, as referenced our personnel report. I think we're always doing the right thing when it comes to being transparent. I also think that when somebody gets up here and has a revolving door of opinions about, oh, the personnel report is bad and it just shouldn't happen. Oh, why should you table it to consider whether or not it's good or bad? Like, that doesn't make sense and there's obviously something wrong there. Um, but it's wild that now we've moved to that level of thing. Um, and let's
037just hope that that's where the intimidation stops, right? Like that it's not that people go and and try to stir stuff and hurt people and mess with people's employment. That's silly. Um, one thing I have to say is somebody reading the the policies, I'm really glad that the policies that had been not revised in many many many many many years um are being addressed and the most pressing ones are being brought forward today. um the importance of a of of not coming down too hard on students for recording outside of an academic situation is important. And that's because when we put policies in place, those policies often outlive us. Like things are great today. We all trust everybody in our buildings. We trust each other. But I saw under emergency management out in Gary, if
038our students hadn't have been recording things and putting them out there in any way, shape, or form, kids would have died. I'll just be like, those kids saved lives. And so, if we could just be a little bit more cautious about some of the wording in that policy, that would be great. Also, when we're talking about employment stuff, make sure we understand the legality of people's past actions, even if they seemed good. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Last is Wanda Bucket. Come on down. Let me know. Okay. Just let me know. Keep it straight. Y'all know who I am. I got a problem. I'm tired of hearing about who was on the board last year. The old policy. This is a brand new year. This is a new policy. The old board,
039the one that voted that in. Now, this what we want to do. I want them school buses cuz if we don't get them them bus drivers and them bus aid that longevity, who going to drive our kids to school? That's true. You know, a lot of parents is tired them kids sitting at home now and ready for them kids to go back to school. We need them bus drivers to pick our kids up from the destinated bus stop. Please find that longevity check and give it to them bus drivers, those teachers aid, and the teachers cuz us parents like me and grandparents, we ready for them to go back to school. Y'all know our pocket getting short. We got grandkid, we sitting on vacation cuz that's what they want to do. Let's find that money
040and give it to these teachers. a teacher and them bus driver in the bus. A school started next month. I want my grandbaby standing on that bus line. Not me walking cuz we don't have the bus. Let's dig in our pockets and find that money for these these bus a and them drivers. Now, let me get back on this board. leaks is in this building and I'm tired of hearing about it. I went to two different doctors in the last two days and I'm sitting in the doctor's office hearing what going on before I get waited on and I'm in monster. Yeah, my heart especially in Monster. My primary doctor is in Monster. I'm sitting up in that office, mouth closed or let's listen. I know what going on before I get to the school
041board. That executive meeting y'all having y'all sitting up talking is being leaked out. It being leaked out. How many times I'm going to get up here and tell y'all it's a leak in this building. I'm sitting in the doctor. I s in here know what going on in y'all executive meeting instead of waiting till I get to the board. Let's put a stop to this and we going to do it real quick cuz I got to go back to the doctor again next week. Let me hear what's going on in the executive meeting. The next time I come to the board meeting, I'mma call it out cuz my name Wonder, you know, I'mma start calling you out. believe what I tell you. And y'all don't want that. Keep playing with me. Thank you. Thank you,
042Mr. That concludes the public. Thank you, Mr. Selenas. Okay. Our next item on the agenda is the uh personnel report. Trustees, do I hear a motion? Madam President, Trusty Stanford, I mean, Trusty uh Spencer, I move for the approval of the personnel report. Second. It's been moved and properly second that we approve the personnel report. Are there any questions? Any discussion? If I may make some comments, Tristie, please. Thank you. So, I know that there was a concern about the personnel report being tabled. What I will say is it is the duty of both the superintendent and the school board to make financial decisions that are in the best interest. And if and when there are positions or any kind of situation that requires a little more scrutiny, we it is our job to make
043sure that we're making the best decisions. What I will say is that positions that were tabled that are now being approved tonight um have saved approximately half a million dollars in the school city of Hammond by eliminating uh several positions, five key district positions that were eliminated. I will also say that there were positions that were once upon a time in a general fund or operations fund that are now coming out of grant funds. That was something also that has happened. As far as resignations go, there are many people on this personnel report who are on the resignation list due to licensing and per state statute, those people must be on the resignation list. I am happy to report that many of those people are also coming back because they have entered a program where
044they are going to seek lensure who will then come back and be licensed teachers in front of our students. So what I'm trying to say is that there are decisions when uh personnel reports are tabled. It is not to hurt anybody. It is not to delay anything, but there are reasons why these are things are done. And I'm very proud to say that this evening all of the um personnel matters will be approved. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. We've heard the discussion. Are we ready to vote? All in favor say I. Any oppose? Eyes have it. Motion carried. Thank you, Mr. Selenas. The next item is our uh board policy updates trustees. Okay. Regarding uh board policy 5136 and 5200, what is the pleasure of the board? Madame President, Trustee Cara, I make a motion
045to table the special update June 2024 legislative changes um 5136 and 5200. We've heard the motion. Do we have a second? Second. It's been moved and properly second that the special update June 24 legislative changes policy number 5136 and 5200 be tabled. Are there any questions? All in favor say I. I. Any oppose? Eyes have it. Thank you. Okay, we got that out the way. Then we go to to uh B. We're ready for B. Okay. Under board policies, we see uh recommended action. Do I hear a motion? Madame President, Trusty Guara, I make a motion to table policy 5517.01 [Music] and approve the second reading/adoption of board policies 0164, 0164.1, 0164.2, 0164.3, 0164.5, 0164.6, 0165, 0165.1, 0165.2, 2 0165.3 0165.4 0165.51422.01520.08 1 1662.01 3120.08 3362.01 4120.08 4362.01 534.01 5350 6320 6320.01 017540.02 8510 and
0469130. You've heard the motion. Do I have a second? Second. It's been moved and properly second that we move all all of the board policies that was mentioned named one by one. We we table but and the one that was table which one was that? 5517. Yeah. 517. Uh, you've heard the motion. We've got a second. Any questions? All in favor say I. I. Any opposed? Eyes have it. We have another set of recommended uh board policies. No. No. I did the two. That was all. Well, that was it. Oh, you're right. We covered it all. I'm looking at another thing. Okay. Um, an hour or two. The next agenda item, it calls for an adjournment. But before we do that, I want to make an announcement. Uh the trustees are excited to realize that
047the Hammond teachers federation and the clerical union are in the process of merging. We look forward to this merger and once all documents are completed, uh the board will be more than glad to support it. That's our board announcement. Is there anything else to come before us? I don't have any other announcements. Trustees, do I hear a motion for adjournment? So moved. Happy holiday. It's been moved and probably second. Journ.